I hope everyone’s having a pretty good holiday. I’ve got lots of good presents from some great people, but best of all, I got a chance to communicate with some great people this season, and it’s been a blast. I’ve been on a mini-hiatus this month, but the stress has seemed to alleviate itself, and when all is said and done, I’m glad it’s all
over.

I’ve gotten some great music from great people, and this is the just the first dose.

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School Wednesday: Christmas Presents, 2005.

01 – Change – Paradise
02 – Slave – Party Lites
03 – Shalamar – Take That to the Bank
04 – Imagination – Who (Tell Me Who)
05 – Frankie Knuckles – Rain Falls (featuring Lisa Michaelis)
06 – Lisa Stansfield – Love In Me
07 – MFSB – Old San Juan (Instrumental)
08 – The Bee Gees – How Deep Is Your Love
09 – The Sylvers – I Wish That I Could Talk To You
10 – The System – Lollipops & Everything
11 – George Duke – Sweet Baby
12 – Stephanie Mills – Two Hearts
13 – Club Nouveau – Heavy On My Mind
14 – Zhane – You’re Sorry Now
15 – Tara Kemp – Piece Of My Heart

Who (Tell Me Who) was produced by Arthur Baker, and Leon Sylvers demonstrated his production duties on I Wish That I Could Talk To You and Take That To The Bank. I had never heard the Imagination track before I received them from Thierno and I had never heard The Sylvers’ track before Wayne In SB dropped it to me, particularly since Leon Sylvers II (the father of Leon Sylvers III) passed on recently. May he rest in peace. Much love to both.

Hope you enjoy.

Today is the first day of winter. What better way to kick it off with:

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School Wednesday: Winter Solstice, 2005.

01 – Chic – I Want Your Love
02 – Heatwave – The Groove Line (Extended)
03 – Sun – Sun Is Here
04 – Steve Miller Band – Fly Like An Eagle
05 – Andy Gibb – An Everlasting Love
06 – Steely Dan – Peg
07 – Michael Franks – Your Secret’s Safe With Me
08 – Teena Marie – Portuguese Love
09 – Rufus & Chaka Khan – Everlasting Love
10 – Mica Paris – Breathe Life Into Me
11 – RJ’s Latest Arrival – Hold On (Extended)
12 – Intro – My Love’s On The Way
13 – Portrait – All Natural Girl
14 – Frankie Knuckles – Sold On Love (featuring Lisa Michaelis)

Major props to Nikki for Hold On. And Sun? Well, I hadn’t heard the track in more than 20 years, but thanks to John K., I was graced with Sun Is Here . Hope you enjoy.

I couldn’t think of a name to describe this one. Thanks to KB, he named it perfectly.

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School Wednesday: Funk Time Zone.

01 – Raydio – Jack And Jill
02 – Earth, Wind & Fire – Star
03 – Chicago – Street Player (Dance Mix)
04 – Sister Sledge – He’s The Greatest Dancer
05 – L.T.D. – Holding On (When Love Is Gone)
06 – Electric Light Orchestra – Evil Woman
07 – The Isley Brothers – Voyage to Atlantis
08 – Everything But the Girl – Driving
09 – Heatwave – The Star of The Story
10 – Boz Scaggs – Jojo
11 – Steely Dan – Black Cow
12 – Meli’sa Morgan – Fool’s Paradise
13 – Portrait – Heartstrings
14 – RJ’s Latest Arrival – Heaven In Your Arms

Four the groovy way – KB, Saga, J. Brotherlove, and James added a little spice to this with their suggestions.

I’m sure it’s been a while since you’ve heard Steely Dan, Boz Scaggs, and Everything But The Girl. Here’s the kicker though – remember the house cut that sampled Street Player?

Enjoy.

I don’t know where you live, but down here it’s freezing. I’m under the covers right now.

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School Wednesday: Winter Warmup, Volume 1.

01 – Isley Jasper Isley – 8th Wonder Of The World
02 – The Brothers Johnson – Runnin’ for Your Lovin’
03 – The O’Jays – Message In Our Music
04 – Earth, Wind & Fire – September
05 – T.S. Monk – Bon Bon Vie
06 – Donald Byrd – Lansanna’s Priestess
07 – Swing Out Sister – Everyday Crime
08 – The Family – Desire
09 – Minnie Riperton – Wouldn’t Matter Where You Are
10 – Herb Alpert – Pillow
11 – Bobby Ross Avila – La La Love
12 – Mica Paris – Truth & Honesty
13 – Loose Ends – Easier Said Than Done
14 – Johnny Gill – Just Another Lonely Night
15 – Con Funk Shun – (Let Me Put) Love on Your Mind

I was a big fan of Different Drummer, which is why I pulled 8th Wonder Of The World out. Grant and I think alike, which is why we both dropped Bon Bon Vie. I’m still on the Mizell tip, which is why the instrumental Lansanna’s Priestess was dropped. (Let Me Put) Love On Your Mind is one of my favorite cuts from Con Funk Shun. The rock and soul ballad strikes home with me. I even managed to throw in some Minnie Riperton with a wonderful track, Wouldn’t Matter Where You Are, to compliment The Family’s Desire.

I then threw in
some Mica Paris, Swing Out Sister and Loose Ends to give England its due, and I even threw in Bobby Ross Avila, since someone conjured up La La Love.

Enjoy.